A survey conducted by the Organic Trade Association and funded by a grant from Cotton Incorporated reports that Texas is by far the nation’s leader in the production of organic cotton: Farmers in the Lone Star State planted 6,872 acres in 2002, well ahead of New Mexico (589 acres), California (584), Arizona (578), and Missouri (421), the only other states growing organic cotton. The acreage nationwide was down 22% from 2001. The OTA said that weather, changing markets, and crop rotations were to blame for the decline.
In other news from the OTA, the Massachusetts-based organization will be hosting its All Things Organic Conference and Trade Show at the Austin Convention Center, May 14-17. In its press material, OTA describes Austin as “one of the nation’s foremost organic capitals.” In its third year, All Things Organic claims to be the only annual business-to-business conference and trade show in North America dedicated exclusively to organic products. This year’s keynote speakers will be Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (son of the late senator and president of Waterkeeper Alliance, an environmental group) and Dr. Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health. For more info call 207/842-5468 or go to www.ota.com.
This article appears in January 10 • 2003.